Iranian Soldiers Captured In Iraq

Iraqi and U.S. troops battled Shi’ite militiamen in a village northeast of Baghdad on Thursday, and witnesses and police said U.S. helicopters bombed orchards to flush out gunmen hiding there.

Iraqi security officials said Iranian fighters had been captured in the fighting, in which a sniper shot dead the commander of an Iraqi quick reaction force and two of his men. They did not say how the Iranians had been identified.

Normally one would think this would be a serious source of embarrassment to the Iranians. Lately, military commanders in Iraq have been more outspoken about Iran’s role in supplying the terrorists. Until now, though, they’ve confined their accusations to financial and material support.